A three hour drive to Monument Valley today, to check in to the most exclusive (and expensive) Hotel of this adventure, simply named The View.

Blending sympathetically into the stunning backdrop of mesas, buttes and spires (rock formations to you), our third floor balcony room allowed us panoramic views of an ancient earth scape and, as boasted in the brochure, an unparalleled chance to see the sun set and stars at night, due to minimal light pollution – although the nearly full moon meant us waiting until 4am for the stars to twinkle at their best (that’s dedication).

The location of many John Wayne films, this is the only commercial Hotel in the Navajo Reservation. The staff, many of the guests and traditional tribal art adorning the walls (available for purchase in the gift shop of course), Native American.

We called in to Desert View on the way out of Grand Canyon, where we found this Victorian built tribute to the Native American Indian.

These are the “Elephant’s Feet” on HWY160 just outside of Tonalea.

Anthropomorphism.

“The View”, our hotel for one night.

And his point was?

Inside the hotel.

Outside.

Standing between the shoulders of giants.

Night sky from our hotel balcony.. circa 4.30am!

And Sunrise at 06:55 ish.